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By Ray Hickson

As Dar Lunn plots the best way to highlight Elson Boy’s Kosciuszko credentials, apprentice Chelsea Hillier is rapt to be given another opportunity to extend the front-runner’s winning streak at Randwick on Saturday.

Chelsea Hillier is eyeing another win on Elson Boy at Randwick on Saturday. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Elson Boy has provided Hillier, 28, with her first and second metropolitan winners and taken Dar Lunn on an unexpected ride, with a picket fence stretching to six, and both hope it can continue in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m).

It’s arguably the most important race of Elson Boy’s preparation – with tickets on sale now for the $2 million The Kosciuszko at Randwick in October it’s not lost on either Hillier or Lunn just how much another win can boost his chances of being selected.

“I think whoever gets a ticket would be mad not to pick him,’’ Hillier said.

“It’s really exciting, I’m pleased they’ve stuck with me. They’ve been very loyal to me so far and I appreciate that. He’s a pretty easy horse to ride to be fair.

“He’s a good horse and good horses can get the job done. I seem to get along with him well so hopefully we can continue that on Saturday.”

The four-year-old’s sixth straight win launched him to $26 in The Kosciuszko pre-nominations market. As he faces The Kosciuszko course for the first time, Hillier isn’t concerned about the drop of 100m on his last start Rosehill win three weeks ago.

“I’ve ridden him over 1300m and 1400m and I think 1300m is his prime distance,’’ she said.

“I’m not worried about the 1200m, Dar’s a good trainer and I’m sure he’ll freshen him up for 1200m, especially at Randwick on a big open track.

“He puts himself there and puts himself in a race and it’s up to me to get the timing right.”

Lunn said he had no hesitation in keeping the band together as Hillier’s claim sees Elson Boy drop 1.5kg on his last start win where he held 1-3/4 lengths on Testator Silens.

Against that they’re going up in class and while the Dubbo trainer considered starting in the Listed Winter Stakes over 1400m he felt the Benchmark 88, where he opened $7.50 with TAB on Wednesday, was a good chance to showcase the horse at the Kosciuszko trip.

“I thought we keep him around 1200m and 1300m, we have a plan to give him three weeks off after Saturday then come back,’’ he said.

“If he happened to win or run a nice race then you have people talking about him, that’s what you need.

“I thought Chelsea rode him extra well at Rosehill, and she claims the 3kg so it brings him in at the weights well. He feels as good as I could get him at the moment. He’s done everything right since he won at Rosehill.”

That’s a crucial point to note.

The Rosehill win was off a month between runs, due to his race being called off back on June 1, and in that time Lunn had limited use of the training track at Dubbo due to it being resurfaced and upgraded.

With that work complete he’s been able to work Elson Boy as usual so with the testing ground assured again he won’t be lacking in fitness.

“Randwick is going to be a heavy track so it will probably make it like a 1300m race,’’ he said.

Elson Boy wins at Rosehill on June 15

“He’ll still go forward, he’s a good horse out of the gates and can muster speed.

“I think he has enough pace to be there and at least this time he’s drawn a nice alley. We’ve had to use him a bit more than we wanted to get there but drawn the five he should get there all right.

“It’s going to get harder every time he goes around, he could get beaten shortly but hopefully it’s not this week.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting